Pregnancy

Bill would establish a national stillbirth registry and promote prevention

June 17, 2008 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Barack Obama today introduced the Preventing Stillbirth and Sudden Unexpected Infant Death Act of 2008, which will enhance public health activities related to understanding and preventing stillbirth and sudden unexpected infant deaths (SUID).

Senator Barack Obama: Photo by Jackie (CC)    » read more »

April 14, 2008 -- Pregnancy rates for females under age 25, including teenagers, in the United States declined in 2004 compared to 1990, according to a report released today by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

The report says nearly 38 percent of pregnancies in 2004 were to women under age 25, down from nearly 43 percent in 1990.

Pregnancy: Photo by mahalie (CC)

The proportion of pregnancies among teens under age 20 dropped from 15 percent in 1990 to 12 percent in 2004.    » read more »

April 7, 2008 -- Mothers who smoke early in pregnancy are more likely to give birth to infants with heart defects, according to a study funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

The study, published in the April issue of Pediatrics, shows that women who smoked anytime during the month before pregnancy to the end of the first trimester were more likely to give birth to infants with certain congenital heart defects (CHDs) compared to women who did not smoke during this time period.

Women smoking: Photo by Luis (CC)

The association was stronger for mothers who reported heavier smoking during this time period.    » read more »

Friday, March 07, 2008 -- ABC Daytime continues a decade-long relationship with The National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy. ABC Daytime has joined forces with The National Campaign to tell the story of "One Life to Live's" 16-year-old character Starr Manning's (Kristen Alderson) first sexual experience. The National Campaign stands as a leader in efforts to educate teens and adults alike on the subject of preventing teen pregnancy.    » read more »

MONDAY, FEB. 25, 2008 -- Two-thirds of women who had their first child between 2001 and 2003 worked during their pregnancy compared with just 44 percent who gave birth for the first time between 1961 and 1965, according to a report released today by the U.S. Census Bureau.

The report, Maternity Leave and Employment Patterns: 1961–2003, analyzes trends in women’s work experience before their first child, identifies their maternity leave arrangements before and after the birth and examines how rapidly they returned to work.    » read more »

Washington, D.C., Jan. 30, 2008 -- Five states and non-profit organizations in Ohio, Michigan, Oregon, Florida, and Texas were recently awarded more than $500,000 in federal grant funds to educate health care providers and women of child-bearing age on environmental health risks. The EPA grants will focus on environmental health issues that include exposure to mercury, lead, environmental tobacco smoke, chemicals, pesticides, drinking water contaminants, and indoor and outdoor air contaminants.    » read more »

28 January 2008 -- Pregnant women have long been told to limit the amount of caffeine they consume. Now a new study shows caffeine may dramatically increase the chance of miscarriage.

A new study shows that pregnant women who drink a cup and a half of coffee a day -- or more than 200 milligrams of caffeine -- double their risk of having a miscarriage.

And the warning goes for tea, caffeinated soft drinks and even some medications.

One of the screening questions asked of pregnant women is, "During this pregnancy, have you been drinking coffee at all?"    » read more »